Question

Which amongst the following molecules on polymerization produces neoprene?

• A. \(H_2C=\overset{Cl}{\overset{|}C}-CH=CH_2\)
• B. \(H_2C=CH-C≡CH\)
• C. \(H_2C=\overset{CH_3}{\overset{|}C}-CH=CH_2\)
• D. \(H_2C=CH-CH=CH_2\)

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The question asks which molecule, when polymerized, produces neoprene. Neoprene, also known as polychloroprene, is a type of synthetic rubber that is produced through the polymerization of chloroprene. Chloroprene is the monomeric unit represented by the chemical structure \(H_2C=\overset{Cl}{\overset{|}C}-CH=CH_2\).

To understand why \(H_2C=\overset{Cl}{\overset{|}C}-CH=CH_2\) is the correct choice, let's look at the process:

1. Monomer Identification: The first step in identifying a polymer's monomer is recognizing the structure of the repeating unit in the polymer. For neoprene, the repeating unit is derived from chloroprene.
2. Polymerization Reaction: Chloroprene undergoes a polymerization reaction, which is a process that chemically binds monomer units to form a polymer. For chloroprene, this is primarily through radical polymerization, where the double bond opens up, allowing the formation of a large chain or network enhancing the desirable properties like elasticity and durability.
3. Structure Analysis: The presence of the chlorine atom (\(Cl\)) in chloroprene is crucial, as it leads to the polymerization resulting in neoprene with the distinctive properties associated with the synthetic rubber.

The options provided are:

• \(H_2C=\overset{Cl}{\overset{|}C}-CH=CH_2\): This is chloroprene, the correct monomer for neoprene.
• \(H_2C=CH-C≡CH\): This structure represents butadiene, not related to neoprene.
• \(H_2C=\overset{CH_3}{\overset{|}C}-CH=CH_2\): This is isoprene, used for natural rubber, not neoprene.
• \(H_2C=CH-CH=CH_2\): This represents butadiene, usually for different synthetic rubbers like SBR, not neoprene.

Conclusively, the molecule \(H_2C=\overset{Cl}{\overset{|}C}-CH=CH_2\) (chloroprene) is the correct starting material for the production of neoprene through polymerization.